The Thursday 4

4 Songs I Snobbishly Think You Should Hear 

The last thing I wrote about on this blog, was the death of Tom Petty. That was in 2017 and it still seems unreal. But it will also tie in nicely to one of my entries in this new series.

I was doing pretty ok with this blog for a while. I spotlighted songwriters especially as that's where my heart lies. But life sometimes gets in the way of hobbies. Work piles up and fries your brain and as someone who sits behind a keyboard all day, the last thing you want to do is spend your free time typing more. As I read back through some of my posts though, I remembered how much I did enjoy doing this, brief as it were. So I'm testing myself with a weekly segment to see if I can keep it up. I may do more posts in between if I feel froggy. Who knows? With that, let's begin with The Thursday 4!

I listen to a lot of new Americana and Country music. As much as I can without getting overwhelmed. Even at that, there is so much to discover and fall in love with. If you'll let me, I want to share with you 4 songs that I think you might like or will at least find interesting.

4) Emily Scott Robinson - Better With Time

 From the album "Traveling Mercies"

Greensboro's own Emily Scott Robinson is a songwriting beast. Her debut album Traveling Mercies garnered her loads of attention including a spot on Rolling Stone’s “10 New Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know.” While "The Dress" has become the most talked about track on the album, I chose one of my favorite songs I've heard in a while, from that same record. "Better With Time" is a true story. It's all about the love story between Robinson and her husband, and you guys, it's the sweetest thing you'll hear today. It's the kind of tune that you sort of feel like you've always known. You'll be singing along with a smile by the second time you hear it.

3) Ray Wylie Hubbard ft Aaron Lee Tasjan - Rock Gods

From the album "Co-Starring"

Mr. Hubbard did it again yall. I could have picked pretty much any song from Co-Starring as they are all so wonderful. Personal favorites include "Drink Til I See Double" and "Outlaw Blood." But this song seems timely to me, especially with seeing my last post being a memorial to Tom Petty, whose death is referenced in this song. The chorus states:

"And all the rock gods are dead or dying

Seems the whole world is broken and crying

It is more than prayers we're needing

We're all on a cross, alone and bleeding"

Hubbard's the kind of guy who can articulate the state of the world with gruff poetry, but do so with a raging beat.

2) Morgan Wade - The Night

From the single "The Night"

I'm telling you right now. Morgan Wade is about to blow up. She's working on a new album now and I believe when that hits, she's going to be a superstar. The Night is an opus of recovery and mental health. This is raw and honest and powerful. Imagine something falling between Joan Jett and Jason Isbell. It's truly a sound though, that is all her own. Not exactly country, but a country flavored rock that doesn't exactly sound like southern rock, with the exception of her Floyd Va. accent. Trust me. It'll make sense if you listen.

1) American Aquarium - Better South

From the album "Lamentations"

This isn't a political forum, but BJ Barham is speaking my truth in this song from what I'm so far calling the album of the year "Lamentations." American Aquarium hammers home what a lot of us are feeling in these days. Its kind of a simple message, but requires the deft pen of an author like Barham to poetically illustrate how we can do better. Beautiful song. "Nuff said. 

So that's it for the first edition of The Thursday 4! I hope you check these songs out and if you dig them, go buy them or go buy some merch from the artists. These times are rough on musicians and they are hustling any way they can. See yall next Thursday!

End Of The Line

 

Thomas Earl Petty: October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017

"Yeah and it's over before you know it. It all goes by so fast" 

 

The Best Of Everything

It had been nearly a year since I typed blogger.com into my address bar. I had high aspirations for my music blog and was initially motivated to keep it updated and write about music as much as I could. Sadly the world, or my laziness, intervened and I stopped updating. There was no grand cancellation. I just didn't want to anymore. Until this last week, that is.

I was at work last Monday October 2nd 2017 when I happened to open Facebook on my phone. In the last couple of years, as I've aged, I've grown almost accustomed to my heroes passing on to the greater beyond. Its sadly not that shocking anymore to see news articles about these great pioneers dying. In 2017 alone, we've lost Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Glenn Campbell, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell and so many more. But this one was different.

If I remember correctly, it must have been 1994 or so when I was flipping through the channels on my family's newly acquired satellite dish. I came along some of the music video channels, and stopped when I saw that CMT was airing something I believe was called "Drivin' Country." This was a show I had seen a couple of times and remembered enjoying. These were videos by what we would call Americana or Alt Country artists now. I remember they even played a Dylan video. But what struck me on this particular viewing, was "You Don't Know How It Feels" by Tom Petty. 

I had grown up in a country music household. It wasn't that other music was forbidden, it was just what we listened to. It was what we knew. Rock music was a foreign entity to me for the most part. I knew band names and certain songs, but for the most part I was clueless. So when this shaggy looking fella was singing about "getting to the point and rolling another joint," I was fascinated. The music felt familiar. It had some twang to it, but the words were unlike anything I had ever heard.

I found out soon who the artist and the album was, and it turns out my brother had the CD. So after bumming it from him and making a cassette copy, I stumbled into the world of music outside my comfort zone. Tom Petty became my gateway drug into a world I had never listened to.

The first "rock" CD I ever bought, was Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' Greatest Hits. I went on to purchase more of Petty's albums through the years. Echo was always a personal favorite. I heard "Walls" the first time at a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. Soon I was a grown man with his own tastes. 

On June 9th 2006, I had the opportunity to see Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers live at what was the Verizon Wireless Music Theater. This was probably the first "mega" concert I had ever been too. I'll never forget that sea of humanity singing along with every song. I'll always remember the deafening applause when Stevie Nicks came out to join him. 

I've not stopped listening to Petty's music since that day I first him on CMT. I can't say that for all the music I've listened to in the past. I still listen to the soundtrack for "She's The One." "Southern Accents" is still one of my favorite songs ever. I'll spend the rest of my life humming "Running Down A Dream" to myself. And no wild night sing along will ever be complete without a rousing rendition of "Mary Jane's Last Dance."

I'm thankful for that concert. I'm going to see Robert Earl Keen this December. But I never got to see Johnny Cash. I can't afford to see Springsteen.  But I will always have the memory of that night. 

I hope that all the millions of fans worldwide will find solace and comfort in those amazing songs and performances. 

I know I will.

Songwriter Spotlight - Harlan Howard

"For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take them apart and see what they're made of, and wonder if you can make one, too." - Tom Waits

Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002

One of my favorite things about songwriters, is where they get their ideas. Where do they come up with these turns of phrases? Is it like the movie Walk Hard, where Dewey Cox hears an interesting phrase and immediately has an idea? Or is something crafted slower? Do you start with a title and work back or do you craft that first line that sets the tone? I suppose all of these are right, because in my research, it seems like everyone is a little different. That's why I want to start this feature of the Music Ramble; The Songwriter Spotlight.

Today in this first edition, I wanted to start somewhere less then expected. Prine, Kristofferson, Snider, Isbell, Keen, Williams and more will be featured in time, but why not take this opportunity to learn a little more about one of the most prevalent songwriters in country music history.

When I began looking for someone to start this article with, I wanted to find someone I didn't know much about. I definitely did that, because an hour ago, I had no idea who Harlan Howard was. That's the best thing about digging into the history of music; you can always learn. 

Harlan Howard was born in Lexington Kentucky in 1927. His family relocated soon after to a farm near Detroit. He spent his Saturday nights listening to the Grand Ole Opry and became a fan of Ernest Tubb. It was these songs and their words that would inspire Howard to write. He was especially adept at song titles. 

As an adult, he spent four years in the military service before moving to California and becoming acquainted with the Bakersfield Sound. By the time he moved to Nashville in the 1960's, Howard was a sought after writer and brought several hits with including "Heartaches by the Number", which had been a massive hit for Ray Price. 

In the next four decades, Howard would pen many more songs that would help push artists to the top of the charts. He would write classics with Hank Cochran and Buck Owens. One of Patsy Cline's signature songs, "I Fall To Pieces" was written by he and Cochran. His songs would be recorded Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Patty Loveless, The Judds, Joe Simon, Waylon Jennings, and many more.

Harlan Howard is a member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame and the Nashville Song Writer's Hall Of Fame.

Selected works written by (or with) Harlan Howard:

Above and Beyond (song)

All Fall Down (duet)

All I Can Be (Is a Sweet Memory)

Blame It on Your Heart

Busted 

Call Me Mr. In-Between 

The Chokin' Kind

Don't Tell Me What to Do

Evil on Your Mind

Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)

Foolin' Around 

Heartaches by the Number

Heartbreak U.S.A.

The Hurtin's All Over

I Don't Know a Thing About Love (The Moon Song)

I Don't Remember Loving You

I Fall to Pieces

I Wish I Could Fall in Love Today

I've Got a Tiger By the Tail

Life Turned Her That Way

No Charge

The One You Slip Around With

She Called Me Baby

She's a Little Bit Country

She's Gone, Gone, Gone

Somebody Should Leave

Somewhere Tonight

Streets of Baltimore

These Lips Don't Know How to Say Goodbye

Too Many Rivers

When I Get Thru with You

Where I Ought to Be

Why Not Me 

You Comb Her Hair

You're a Hard Dog (To Keep Under the Porch)

Your Heart Turned Left (And I Was on the Right)

.

For more information on Harlan Howard. visit the Songwriters Hall Of Fame

RIP Week - Leonard Cohen - Leon Russell

I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get?

It seems this year and now this week in particular have been rough for the music industry. In the last week, we have lost Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen and Holly Dunn. In 2016 we've said goodbye to Merle Haggard, Prince, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Lemmy, Ralph Stanley, Joey Feek, and many more. 

I'll be honest that I don't know much of Leon Russell's work. But after researching him, I've come to really appreciate all that he contributed to music. 

Take a listen to Tight Rope from the 1972 album Carney:

I do however know a little more about the work of Leonard Cohen. I remember the first time I saw Pump Up the Volume. I was entranced by this deep voice singing over a funky almost ghostly track. It was Everybody Knows, and I wanted more. I've never become a super fan of Cohen's, but he's always been someone that I knew was worth respecting. I know his more famous works, but have little knowledge of his back catalog. I can say that this is my favorite Cohen song:

In honor of these legends, I think I'm going to do a little more audio research and get a little more familiar with these cats.

RIP Holly Dunn

Holly Dunn August 22, 1957 — November 15, 2016

I remember listening to Daddy's Hands in the back seat of my parents station wagon on the way to visit my Grandma in the mountains of Ashe County North Carolina. When I heard it back then, I thought of my Grandfather that I had never met and how I figured this was how people felt about him. 

Holly Dunn died from a brief encounter with cancer. 

Here is the song she will probably be remembered for most.

Grew Up In A Small Town

Probably Die In A Small Town

Don't worry. This list doesn't feature Little Pink Houses. 

Small towns make sense to me. I guess growing up in a town of around 2500 people was good for me. Don't get me wrong. I love to visit bigger cities like Charlotte or or the booming metropolis of Bristol, but my heart is here. I work at the same hospital I was born in. I drive the same roads every day. I got a good handful of friends that I wouldn't trade for anything. This is where my family, my wife, and all things that are me, reside. 

So that brings me to songs about small towns. There are a million at least. Every genre boasts tons of songs about small town pride, or why small towns suck. I didn't want to go to obvious with the choices here, although I'm sure some will be familiar. 

5) Small Town Hero - Sawyer Brown

From the album This Thing Called Wantin' And Havin' It All
Written by Mark Miller and Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard
Buy it on Amazon

It's a real shame this wasn't a hit, or hasn't been covered by somebody yet. Three verses each tell a story about being the titular hero. The first is a story of someone almost making it in the music business, but ultimately failing. The second tells a tragic story of a Vietnam vet who comes home a hero, but still deals with the demons of war internally. The last is a tale of a farmer who's going to lose his family farm, but before the bankers can take it away, he burns it all to the ground. It's bittersweet in that, yes, they were all heroes. But as Kristofferson said "The going up was worth the coming down."

4) Turning Home - David Nail

From the album I'm About to Come Alive
Written by  Kenny Chesney and Scooter Carusoe
Buy it on Amazon

This one was a pretty solid hit for Nail in 2010. It went up to number 20 on the US Hot Country Songs. Still though, to me anyway, didn't seem exactly like a mainstream country song. It seemed more like a cover of an older song; maybe something from the 70s.  The story circles around some cliches, but Nail's vocal and the chorus really drive the song home. Pun intended? After all the elements come together, it plays a sepia slide show in your mind. It really take you to this town he can't ever seem to leave behind for too long.

3)This Town - Kacey Musgraves

From the album Pageant Material 
Written by Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves and Brandy Clark
Buy it on Amazon

"Big enough for a ZIP code, a VFW

A good Mexican restaurant, a beauty shop or two

Got a Methodist, a Baptist, and a Church of the Nazarene

Aw, but don't you forget it, as big as we're getting

This town's too small to be mean

Yeah, it's too dang small to be mean"

This 2:57 second song is an ode to the small town. Although it was written about one town in particular, it could be the anthem of hundreds of small towns around the country. The little map dot is growing, but the attitudes stay the same. It's a picture of Anywhere USA, driven by clever lyrics and the sublime styling Ms. Musgraves.

2) My Hometown - Charlie Robinson

From the album Life of the Party
Written by Charlie Robinson
Buy it on Amazon

Truly one of my favorite songs ever. This is the kind of tune you sing along with your buddies around a campfire in early summer. Charlie Robinson takes you on a ride through his memories of growing up and growing out of the his small town. He makes big plans to leave several times, but always ends up home. His friends are now in bigger cities, but if they ever find themselves back there again, he's sure he'll see them around his hometown.

1) Big Day In A Small Town - Brandy Clark

From the album Big Day In A Small Town
Written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Mark D. Sanders
Buy it on Amazon

These three songwriters have crafted one of the best tunes I've heard this year. This might be the ultimate small town song. Referencing Waffle Houses, Walmart, dead deer and teenage pregnancy, Brandy Clark illustrates this place with love and simultaneous disbelief. It speaks to those of us who live far away from the urban jungle and pokes fun at the things we get wrapped up in. Give it a listen. Also be sure to check this whole album. It's kind of a big deal.

Ear Worms

Songs that get stuck in your head

Just saw this article and thought it was interesting.

Why Certain Songs Get Stuck In Your Head